Sexual Orientation

From The Queens Tribune – Thursday October 29, 2009 Issue

To The Editor:

On October 17, hundreds of people gathered in College Point, Queens to share their disgust with the assault of Jack Price, an openly gay College Point resident. I was one of those New Yorkers outraged that another citizen was brutally beaten to near death simply because of his sexual orientation. What was perhaps more outrageous was the disturbing revelation that was made at the rally.

Did you know that the majority of hate crimes are committed by young people under the age of 24? Think about that. Terrifying and true.

As the President of the New York State Young Democrats, an organization that represents this demographic of offenders, I feel that something must be done to address this issue. I call upon my local, state and federal elected officials to increase the amount of money allocated to tolerance and acceptance education. If we are going to reduce the amount of young people who commit hate crimes we must do so by doing a better job at educating our young people in love, tolerance and acceptance.

Let’s honor Jack Price by calling your elected officials and telling them that you demand an increase in funding for tolerance education.

Matthew Silverstein

New York State Young Democrats President & Bay Terrace Resident

Last night the New York State Young Democrats Executive Committee approved the following resolution….

Sponsored by the New York State Young Democrats

WHEREAS, Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans have served and continue to serve honorably in the United States Armed Forces; and

WHEREAS, the Armed Forces are weakened when competent and qualified individuals are involuntarily discharged solely due to their sexual orientation; and

WHEREAS, the National Defense Authorization Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-160) created the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy; and

WHEREAS, under the restrictions of the current policy, an average of two service members are discharged from the military every day simply due to their sexual orientation; and

WHEREAS, over 13,000 service members – the equivalent of 3 ½ combat brigades – have been discharged as a result of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell;” and

WHEREAS, in the last five years, while our country has been engaged in two wars, the military has discharged over 800 mission critical troops under of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” including over 50 Arabic linguists; and

WHEREAS, up to $1.3 billion in taxpayer money has been wasted discharging otherwise qualified troops under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell;” and

WHEREAS, it costs the military at least $60,000 to recruit and train each new service member, and much more to prosecute and pursue separations under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell;”

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the New York State Young Democrats hereby supports H.R. 1283, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, repealing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

Tag: Sexual Orientation

Stop The Hate: My Letter To The Editor Of The Queens Tribune

Resolution in Support of H.R. 1283, The Military Readiness Enhancement